Our Mission
To shine Christ's love to preschoolers and their families by creating a positive, Christ-centered environment that nurtures the whole child.
We accomplish this mission with active learning through Bible stories, play, music, educational games, stories, art projects, field trips, and interactions with other children. An environment with age appropriate activities helps to nurture the spiritual, physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of 3, 4, and 5 year olds.
We have been in operation since 1983 at Cumberland Valley Brethren in Christ Church (now The Meeting House – Dillsburg Campus) in Dillsburg, PA. We also are joining Daybreak Church in Mechanicsburg, PA in September 2024!
About Our Preschool
Mountainside consists of well-trained, qualified staff who care deeply about your child and will welcome them in a positive, Christ-centered and nurturing environment.
Our school is unique in that we use a "rotation model." This means that each of our classes are staffed with a teacher and an aide who lead the children around our school, rotating rooms every twenty minutes. This allows us to collaborate and coordinate our teaching and resources for better effectiveness. This also allows the children a chance to practice cleaning up, lining up and transitioning several times a day; and the movement helps keep their focus and attention.
Children will rotate through Bible, art, circle, snack, playground, and alphabet time during our school day.
Meet Our Staff
Pam French | Executive Director
Pam is the Mechanicsburg campus director and the current teacher for our Monday-Friday PreK class. Pam received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education as well as a minor in music and Bible. She previously taught fourth grade, piano lessons and directed preschool while on staff at her church.
Keri Walton | Dillsburg Campus Director
Keri is the director and teaches a Monday-Wednesday-Friday PreK class. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education - Mathematics from Bloomsburg University. She taught for four years in the Northern York Country School District before staying home with her three children.
Dillsburg Campus
Jenn Tanney | Curriculum Coordinator and Teacher
Jenn teaches one of the Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten classes as well as a Tuesday-Thursday Pre-Kindergarten class. She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Elementary and Special Education as well as a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Bloomsburg University. She previously taught in other preschools and childcare centers.
Diane Sites | Teacher/Aide
Diane will be teaching a Monday-Wednesday preschool class this year as well as helping on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Diane has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. This will be Diane's eighth year on staff at Mountainside. She worked in childcare and education for five years prior to coming to Mountainside.
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Michelle Stauffer | Teacher
Michelle began teaching at Mountainside Preschool in 2006. She teaches one of our Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten classes. Michelle has an Associate’s degree in Education as well as an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She brings a wealth of experience along with her love of preschoolers.
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Ruth Anne Engle | Teacher
Ruth Anne will be a Tuesday-Thursday preschool teacher this year. Ruth Anne has Bachelor's degrees in education and Kinesiology. She previously taught fourth grade and is entering her 14th year at Mountainside.
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Cindi Syvertson | Teacher
Cindi went to Messiah College for a degree in Psychology with a focus on Child Development. She is a foster/adoptive parent and has over a hundred hours of attachment, child development and trauma training. This year she will be teaching a Monday-Wednesday-Friday and a Tuesday-Thursday Pre-Kindergarten class.
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Jessica Nixon | Teacher
Jessica has a Masters in Social Work that she received from the University of Pittsburg and is teaching a Tuesday-Thursday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten class. She worked for 6 years until she had her son and has been a part of Mountainside for 5 years.
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Bretney Bernardi | Teacher
Bretney is new to the staff at Mountainside and will be teaching the Tuesday-Thursday Preschool class. She graduated from Penn State University-Harrisburg and has a wide range of experience in early childhood education. After college, she worked as a Preschool Teacher for Head Start, then as a TSS, and later as a Social and Emotional Teacher and Behavioral Consultant at Susquehanna Township. Brittany took time away from teaching to raise her boys, and she is excited for Mountainside to be the beginning of her next chapter in the classroom.
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Kristen Brodsky | Teacher
Kristen graduated from Eastern University with a major in Youth Ministry and a minor in Psychology. A few years later, she went back to school to become a registered nurse and worked in healthcare. This is her 2nd year at Mountainside. Kristen will be teaching the Pink Starfish preschool class.
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Alexis Weaver | Teacher
This is Alexis's first year at Mountainside, and she will be teaching teh Tuesday-Thursday Preschool class. She graduated from Messiah University with degrees in PreK-4 Education and Special Education. Before joining Mountainside, Alexis taught 3rd grade in Harrisburg City for five years. After welcoming her daughter, Emma, she felt called to return to the classroom in a preschool setting, where she can contribute her teaching experience with her love for working with young children.
Nina Hoover | Aide
Ruth Knapp | Aide
Kristen Brodsky | Aide
Rachel Byers | Aide
Lindsey Miller | Aide
Beth Myers | Aide
Jasmine Peightal | Aide​
Darrah Seip | Aide
Aven Shupe | Aide
Mechanicsburg Campus
Brooke Fickes | Teacher
Brooke will be teaching a Monday-Wednesday-Friday preschool class and a Tuesday-Thursday Pre-Kindergarten class this year. She holds an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education and several years of experience as a preschool teacher. Brooke is passionate about creating a caring and nurturing classroom environment where children feel safe, loved and excited to learn.
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Bobbi Ann Smith| Teacher
This is Bobbi Ann's first year at Mountainside, and she is excited to join the team! She will be teaching the Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten class. Bobbi Ann graduated from Cabrini College with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She spent the majority of her career working in daycare and preschool settings, where she has developed a love for young learners as they grow in confidence and ability.
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Chloe Wester | Teacher/
Chloe is new to Mountainside this year and is excited to be a part of the team! She will be teaching the Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten class as well as the Tuesday-Thursday preschool class. Chloe graduated from Messiah University with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies. Along with teaching, she also works part-time with West Shore Free Church, where she enjoys serving children and families in the community.
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Esther Wong | Teacher/Aide
Esther joined the Mountainside Preschool staff last year and is thrilled to continue serving our families. She will be teaching our Purple Butterfly preschool class and assisting in the Orange Tiger Pre-Kindergarten class. She graduated from Penn State University with an associates degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a bachelors degree in Health Administration. With nearly 15 years of experience in early childhood education, Esther brings a wealth of knowledge and love for helping children learn and grow.
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​​Holly Anderson | Aide
Lindsey Breichner | Aide
Karli Gallagher | Aide
Angela Weiser | Aide
Esther Wong | Aide
